JD Journal » laid off employees

Laid Off Employees In Louisiana Sue Over Job Loss

todd — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:47:37 +0000

Laid off employees in Louisiana have filed a law suit over Governor Jindal’s changes to the Louisiana Civil Service Commission’s layoff rules. The suit, which was filed on July 30, questions the legality of their layoffs as well as the seven percent cut to their previous salaries.

The complaint charges that the employees had obtained a permanent classified status in the Louisiana Civil Service system and that they had “bumping rights” as well as other job protections.

The lawsuit says, “This political pressure was, and is, designed to systematically cripple the protections afforded state workers by the Louisiana Civil Service Commission, thus enlarging the political power of elected officials that results from patronage hiring and other politically driven personnel actions.”

The employees are requesting compensatory damages, citing economic and emotional losses, injuries and damages, damages to their reputation, punitive damages, interest, attorney’s fees and court costs.

The have requested a jury trial. U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk will preside over the case.

Orrick Abandons Lock-step Compensation for Associates

Erik Even — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:35:01 +0000

San Francisco’s Orrick, which laid off 300 employees in March, is abandoning lock-step compensation for associates.

Under a lock-step scheme, associate salaries are determined entirely by how long the associate has been with the firm.

Orrick’s new compensation model places associates on the partner track into one of three levels: Associate, Managing Associate, and Senior Associate. Compensation will be based on level, and clear guidelines for moving up through the levels will be provided.

Associates not on the track to partner will be on a personalized program called the Custom Track.

The firm is also expanding its associate training, mentoring, and feedback systems.

San Francisco, California-based Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe was founded in 1863, and has over 1,100 lawyers worldwide in 21 offices. The firm’s day-to-day administrative operations are centralized at a Global Operations Center in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Harvard Law Loses 12 Staff

Erik Even — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:22:47 +0000

The other day, we reported about layoffs at Harvard Law School.

We now know that 12 staffers were let go this week. That’s Harvard Law’s share of the 275 employees laid off at the University overall.

If you have any details about the layoffs at Harvard Law School, please — send us a confidential tip!

Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the United States’ oldest law school in continuous operation. It is home to the largest academic law library in the world. HLS is typically ranked in the top three law schools in the nation, and is currently listed as the second best law school in the United States by US News and World Report, behind only Yale Law School.

Rumor: Staff Layoffs at Kirkland & Ellis

Erik Even — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:38:18 +0000

According to rumors repeated by reliable blawgs, Kirkland & Ellis is laying off an undisclosed number of support staff today. It is said no lawyers will be affected.

All laid off employees will be notified by the end of the day today. Severance has not been mentioned.

The cuts are said to affect the Chicago, New York and Washington DC offices.

If you know anything about layoffs today at Kirkland & Ellis, please send us a confidential tip!

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is a Chicago-based law firm that practices in the US and internationally. As of 2008, it was the seventh largest law firm in the US and the 11th largest in the world by revenue. It has offices in New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Munich, Hong Kong, and Palo Alto.

Reed Smith Lays Off 26 Lawyers, 74 Staffers

Erik Even — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:51:42 +0000

Today Reed Smith laid off 26 attorneys and 74 staff across its US and UK offices.

Seven of the lawyers are in the US, and the firm has targeted 9 in London for redundancy.

All of the affected associates are in the corporate and real estate practices.

The laid off employees will get severance and outplacement assistance.

Founded in 1877, Reed Smith LLP employs 1500 attorneys in 23 cities worldwide. The firm counsels 28 of the top 30 US banks, and 10 of the world’s 12 largest pharmaceutical companies. In addition to the United States, Reed Smith has offices in the United Kingdom, continental Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Manatt Lays Off 12 Attorneys, 35 Staff

Erik Even — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:49:56 +0000

Since October, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips has laid off employees nationwide; 12 attorneys, 3 paralegals, and 32 administrative staff.

The firm blamed the economic meltdown.

Manatt’s Los Angeles headquarters has been the hardest hit by the layoffs.

If you know any additional details about these layoffs, please send us a confidential tip.

Founded in 1965, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP is a firm of approximately 450 attorneys and other professionals. The firm earned revenues in excess of $240 million in 2007.

LexisNexis Freezes Salaries

Erik Even — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:02:15 +0000

Legal document archive firm LexisNexis has announced it is freezing salaries at 2008 levels.

In order to address what is shaping up to be a more challenging 2009, the senior LexisNexis management team, which includes the leaders of all business and functional units, has had to make some difficult decisions. These decisions include freezing salaries at 2008 levels across all of LexisNexis Group…Except for a promotion or when an increase is required by local law, no one in LexisNexis Group will receive an increase in 2009…

It is our sincere hope that these steps will enable us to otherwise minimize any job reductions to deal with the economic downturn. Of course, no one knows how the balance of 2009 will unfold.

ATL points out that Lexis already laid off 300 employees last April.

LexisNexis is a popular searchable archive of content from newspapers, magazines, legal documents and other printed sources.